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addiction, the various populations at risk for the disease, current statistics and trends, and
psychological disorders that often accompany addiction. You will also find information on spotting
the signs and symptoms of substance use and hotlines for immediate assistance.

Treatment for addiction takes many forms and depends on the needs of the individual.
In accordance with the American Society of Addiction Medicine, we offer information on
outcome-oriented treatment that adheres to an established continuum of care. In this section, you
will find information and resources related to evidence-based treatment models, counseling and
therapy and payment and insurance options.

Treatment for addiction takes many forms and depends on the needs of the
individual. In accordance with the American Society of Addiction Medicine, we offer
information on outcome-oriented treatment that adheres to an established continuum of
care. In this section, you will find information and resources related to evidence-based
treatment models, counseling and therapy and payment and insurance options.

The recovery process doesn't end after 90 days of treatment. The transition back to
life outside of rehab is fraught with the potential for relapse. Aftercare resources such as
12-step groups, sober living homes and support for family and friends promote a life rich with
rewarding relationships and meaning.

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prevention, empowering others through stories of strength and courage. From people in active
recovery to advocates who have lost loved ones to the devastating disease of addiction, our
community understands the struggle and provides guidance born of personal experience.

Schizophrenia and Substance Abuse

Schizophrenia is a complex and severe mental health disorder that affects an afflicted individual’s ability to think, feel and act. Often characterized by hallucinations, paranoia and loss of a sense of reality, schizophrenia is frequently accompanied by substance use disorders.

Schizophrenia is a debilitating mental disorder that affects the way an individual thinks, acts and feels. Those with schizophrenia may hear voices in their head or see things that do not exist. They may display signs of paranoia, psychosis and irrational or delusional thinking. Schizophrenia is also linked to high rates of addiction.

Co-occurring disorders, when a mental health disorder and another health disorder such as a substance addiction occur concurrently, are common among those with schizophrenia. Approximately 50 percent of individuals with schizophrenia have a history of substance abuse or addiction, according to a variety of studies cited by the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Substance abuse also increases the risks of suicide, trauma and homelessness among those with schizophrenia, in addition to other health risks. The most commonly abused substances among individuals with schizophrenia are nicotine, alcohol, marijuana, cocaine and psychedelic drugs.

Experts believe individuals with schizophrenia abuse substances to self-medicate and alleviate symptoms of the disorder.

33.7 percent of individuals with schizophrenia meet the criteria for alcoholism.

For people with co-occurring schizophrenia and substance addiction, specialized rehab programs treat the disorders together rather than independently, providing the best chance of recovery. Knowing the signs and symptoms of co-occurring schizophrenia and substance abuse is the first step to helping those with schizophrenia get healthy.

What Causes Schizophrenia?

Though the exact cause of schizophrenia is not known, a number of factors are believed to play a key role in the disorder’s development.

The dominant schizophrenia development factors include:

Genetics

Schizophrenia runs in families. Schizophrenia occurs in less than 1 percent of the population; however, 10 percent of those with a first-degree relative with schizophrenia also develop the disorder. Individuals with second-degree relatives with schizophrenia also have higher rates of the disorder as well. Those with an identical twin who has schizophrenia have a 40 percent to 65 percent chance of developing the disorder.

Environment

Environmental factors are also believed to contribute to schizophrenia development. Exposure to viruses or chemicals in the womb, malnutrition before birth, complications during birth and psychosocial influences are possible factors for schizophrenia development. Individuals with older fathers are also at an increased risk of developing schizophrenia.

Brain Chemistry and Structure

Researchers believe that a chemical imbalance involving dopamine, glutamate and other neurotransmitters can contribute to schizophrenia development. Additionally, the brain structures of those with schizophrenia differ from those of healthy individuals. Ventricles — fluid-filled cavities at the brain’s center — are larger in individuals with schizophrenia. Individuals with schizophrenia usually have less gray matter, and some areas of their brains may have less or more activity than an average brain.

What Are Common Symptoms of Schizophrenia?

The onset of schizophrenia symptoms is usually not recognizable until late adolescence or early adulthood. Schizophrenia diagnoses are rare among children and individuals 45 or older. Schizophrenia typically occurs in males, although a good portion of schizophrenia cases are female.

Schizophrenia symptoms can be extremely debilitating, hindering an individual’s ability to function normally.

Delusions

Delusions from schizophrenia are strongly held false beliefs that are not based on reality or logic. Often, these delusions are characterized by paranoia and fear. Delusions are one of the most common symptoms of schizophrenia, as four out five individuals with schizophrenia experience them.

Examples of schizophrenic delusions include:

Irrational feelings of being harmed or harassed.

Belief that random or unrelated gestures and comments are directed at the schizophrenic individual.

False belief of having extraordinary abilities or powers.

Believing individuals are in love with them who are not.

Believing a major catastrophe is going to occur.

Hallucinations

Schizophrenic hallucinations are characterized by seeing or hearing things that do not exist and believing they are real. Hallucinations can be through any of the senses; however, hearing voices is the most common hallucination.

Other hallucinations may include seeing people, objects or events that are not there, smelling odors that do not exist and feeling things such as an invisible finger when no one is present.

Disorganized Thinking

Disorganized thinking, usually manifested through disorganized speech, is a common side effect of schizophrenia. Disorganized thinking hinders schizophrenic individuals’ ability to effectively communicate.

They may give answers to questions completely unrelated to the topic or to questions never asked. They may also exhibit “word salad,” the term used to refer to combining words and thoughts in nonsensical fashion.

Abnormal Behavior

Symptoms of abnormal behavior can vary and may be hard to comprehend or recognize. Schizophrenic behavioral symptoms can range from acting irregularly childish to unpredictably agitated. Individuals exhibiting these symptoms may resist instructions, display odd or inappropriate posture or movements, fail to respond to verbal communication and exhibit other odd or irregular behaviors.

Negative Symptoms

Negative schizophrenia symptoms hinder the ability to function normally and rationally. They are often characterized by isolation and social withdrawal.

Negative symptoms include:

Lack of Emotion

Not Making Eye Contact

Not Changing Facial Expressions

Monotone Speech

Inability to Plan or Carry Out Activities

Speaking Less

Personal Hygiene Neglect

Loss of Interest

Lack of Ability to Experience Pleasure

Recognizing Teen Schizophrenia Symptoms

Discerning schizophrenia symptoms in teenagers can be difficult, as many symptoms are often associated with normal teen behaviors. Symptoms that could indicate schizophrenia or the potential development of schizophrenia include withdrawing from friends and family, poorer school performance, trouble sleeping, agitation, depression and a lack of motivation. Additionally, teens are less likely to exhibit delusion symptoms but are more likely to experience visual hallucinations.

Why Do People with Schizophrenia Abuse Drugs or Alcohol?

Substance abuse is the most common co-occurring disorder among people with schizophrenia. It is generally believed that individuals with schizophrenia use substances as self-medication to alleviate schizophrenic symptoms. The most commonly abused substances among those with schizophrenia are nicotine, alcohol, cannabis and cocaine, respectively.

Nicotine

More than 40 percent of the cigarettes smoked in the United States are smoked by individuals with a mental health disorder. In particular, schizophrenia is linked to incredibly high rates of smoking.

According the National Institute on Drug Abuse, smoking rates among individuals with schizophrenia has ranged as high as 90 percent. A study cited in the American Journal of Psychiatry found that cigarette-smoking schizophrenic individuals were significantly more likely to be males and have an earlier onset of schizophrenia and a higher number of previous hospitalizations.

According to studies cited by the U.S. National Library of Medicine, nicotine may alleviate cognitive deficiencies in schizophrenic individuals and is thought to be used to reduce the severity of schizophrenic symptoms; however, the negative health consequences from tobacco use outweigh the benefits for these individuals.

Alcohol

Alcohol addiction is the second most common co-occurring substance use disorder among people with schizophrenia. Alcohol is legal and widely available, making it an easy choice for individuals with schizophrenia.

A study by the National institute for Mental Health’s Epidemiologic Catchment Area program found that 33.7 percent of those with schizophrenia or schizophreniform disorder (disorders with similar symptoms of schizophrenia that last less than six months) met the criteria for alcoholism at some point in their lives.

Marijuana

According to a study done by researchers at the University of Vienna, a growing amount of evidence from numerous studies shows that marijuana use may increase the odds of schizophrenia. Additionally, adolescents who use marijuana have twice the risk of developing schizophrenia or schizophreniform disorder in adulthood.

Heavy cannabis use may also accelerate or exacerbate schizophrenic symptoms. A study cited in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders found evidence that daily marijuana users had rates of psychotic symptoms 1.6 to 1.8 times higher than those of non-marijuana users.

Cocaine

Cocaine abuse among those with schizophrenia is linked to increased risks of suicide, high hospitalization rates, and noncompliance with substance use and mental health treatments. Researchers believe cocaine is used among individuals with schizophrenia to alleviate symptoms.

What are the Effects of Co-occurring Schizophrenia and Substance Abuse?

Schizophrenic individuals who abuse substances increase their likelihood of many negative consequences. They are more likely to relapse into psychosis, neglect their antipsychotic medications and other medical treatments, commit acts of violence and die by suicide.

They are also more vulnerable to injury and illness, poorer psychosis treatment outcomes and higher rates of inpatient and emergency services. Additionally, incarceration rates among those with co-occurring schizophrenia and substance use disorders are high.

Half of those with schizophrenia develop a substance use disorder in their lifetime.

Long-term substance abuse among those with schizophrenia can result in vast deterioration in functioning. Cannabis and alcohol abuse among those with schizophrenia is linked to psychotic relapse. Those with co-occurring substance abuse and schizophrenia also experience more frequent auditory hallucinations and paranoid delusions.

Overall, substance abuse among those with schizophrenia is linked to immense social, health and legal complications or consequences that can make it nearly impossible to live a healthy and productive life.

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How to Prevent Substance Abuse Among those with Schizophrenia?

While there is no absolute way to prevent schizophrenia, early treatment and recognition of symptoms can help control the development of the disorder and its severity, thus reducing the likelihood of developing a substance use disorder as well.

Compared to the general population, the odds of having a substance abuse diagnosis were found to be 4.6 times higher for people with schizophrenia.

Treatment programs for schizophrenia can help prevent relapse and the worsening of schizophrenia symptoms, as well as co-occurring disorders such as substance abuse. Additionally, eliminating schizophrenia risk factors can also prevent substance abuse.

Reducing stressors for individuals with schizophrenia can prevent negative symptoms, relapse and substance use. According to a study by researchers at Emory University, stressors increase substance use and can exacerbate schizophrenia symptoms. Implementing prevention techniques that eliminate stress among those with schizophrenia may also reduce substance addictions in this population.

Treatment and Recovery for Co-occurring Schizophrenia and Substance Addiction

Treatment for co-occurring schizophrenia and substance use disorder is most effective when it is integrated to manage the disorders together rather than independently. Co-occurring disorder treatment programs give individuals the greatest chance of recovery.

Many co-occurring disorder programs use a technique called behavioral treatment for substance abuse in serious and persistent mental illness (BTSAS) to reduce substance abuse in those with schizophrenia and other mental illnesses.

If you or someone you know has schizophrenia, or you recognize schizophrenic symptoms in your own or another’s behavior, there are options to help prevent the disorder from worsening and prevent the development of a substance abuse disorder. The earlier a schizophrenic individual receives treatment, the better chance that person has to reach recovery.

Trey Dyer is a writer for DrugRehab.com and an advocate for substance abuse treatment. Trey is passionate about sharing his knowledge and tales about his own family’s struggle with drug addiction to help others overcome the challenges that face substance dependent individuals and their families. Trey has a degree in journalism from American University and has been writing professionally since 2011.